Camp SoulGrow, a nonprofit, donation-based program for children ages 7 to 12, is returning to Montauk for the summer of 2025 — and its founder, London Rosiere, “can’t wait to be home.”
Comprising a series of 90-minute-long workshops led by local creatives and business owners, Camp SoulGrow began in the summer of 2014, when Ms. Rosiere was feeling particularly lost following the death of her mother, and had resolved to find a way to heal.
“I said, ‘Every day I’m going to push myself — athletically, spiritually, creatively, mentally — and I’m going to figure out who I’m supposed to be,’ ” she recalled. “And I went out to Montauk for the summer, and that’s exactly what happened.”
She had been particularly affected by the feeling of being part of a community, and by the openness of the locals she had encountered, and recognized how impactful a similar experience could be on the children around her. “I saw the separation of the rich kids and the out-of-towners and the locals, and I wanted to make being a kid cool,” she explained. “The whole idea of Camp SoulGrow is to help kids of all backgrounds figure out who they are, who they want to be, meet other kids, and learn to love themselves.”
To date she estimates she has organized over 900 workshops and served over 3,000 children between New York and her home state of Louisiana. Starting July 1, Camp SoulGrow will be operating out of Montauk’s Fort Pond House, hosting workshops on subjects ranging from gardening to yoga to empanada making. Kids will also be taking trips out into the community, including one to climb the Montauk Point Lighthouse, and another to learn fish processing at Gosman’s Fish Market.
“We use the community as our classroom and the people and local businesses as our teachers, because there really is something to learn from everyone,” she said. Each workshop is capped at 15, and participants must sign up in advance on their website. A $20 tax-deductible donation is requested, though no child is turned away if unable to pay. “I’m just thrilled to be able to keep going.”
A full list of workshops can be found at campsoulgrow.org.